Third Party Press

Spandau 1901

PrayingMantis

Senior Member
I got this in a trade; the previous owner needed a reenacting Gew but he had this so I traded him the barrel mismatched 1914 Danzig for this.

It is unit marked, and has the features of an early rifle. Interestingly, it has been updated for the S round but lacks the receiver fireproof. It has updated rear sights on the old sight-base, and the early bayonet lug. Also of interest is the stock, which is numbered internally but not externally, kind of like a Gew 88.

I really wish I knew the history of this gun, as it is mostly matching and in nice shape, but ended up being sold cheap to a reenactor. Aside from the early features, the Unit mark is the coolest part; I need to look up the history of the 4th Grenadier Guards Reserve.

I dropped in a extra bolt I had that came with my Danzig 1916, it'll work until a fine something better. Here are the numbers;

SPANDAU 1901

Receiver SN 6136
Barrel SN 6136 BI 72
Front sight SN 36
Rear sight SN 40
Sight Slider SN 36
Ejector box SN 36
Trigger Sear SN 36
Front barrel band SN 36
Rear barrel band SN 36
Trigger guard SN 6136
Trigger guard screws SN 36, 36
Floor Plate SN 36
Follower SN 36
Stock SN 6136 Disc 4 GG.R.3.136.
Handguard SN 6136
Buttplate SN 6136
Bayonet lug SN 36
Cleaning rod SN 96
Bolt body SN 1851 2568 2655
Extractor SN
Safety SN 07
Cocking piece SN 07
Bolt sleeve SN 07
Extractor SN 07
Firing pin SN 07

Full pictures found here: https://picasaweb.google.com/cm13637aef/Spandau1901?authkey=Gv1sRgCIn4-vP7ueyyUw#
 

Attachments

  • Spandau 1901 Barrel Code.jpg
    Spandau 1901 Barrel Code.jpg
    100.3 KB · Views: 67
  • Spandau 1901 Bayonet Lug.jpg
    Spandau 1901 Bayonet Lug.jpg
    267.6 KB · Views: 58
  • Spandau 1901 Full Profile.jpg
    Spandau 1901 Full Profile.jpg
    101.2 KB · Views: 80
  • Spandau 1901 Receiver Left.jpg
    Spandau 1901 Receiver Left.jpg
    236.4 KB · Views: 92
  • Spandau 1901 Receiver Right.jpg
    Spandau 1901 Receiver Right.jpg
    290.3 KB · Views: 74
  • Spandau 1901 Receiver Top.jpg
    Spandau 1901 Receiver Top.jpg
    297.4 KB · Views: 118
  • Spandau 1901 Sight Base.jpg
    Spandau 1901 Sight Base.jpg
    177.7 KB · Views: 76
  • Spandau 1901 Stock External Serial.jpg
    Spandau 1901 Stock External Serial.jpg
    128.5 KB · Views: 62
  • Spandau 1901 Stock Internal Serial.jpg
    Spandau 1901 Stock Internal Serial.jpg
    151.7 KB · Views: 47
  • Spandau 1901 Unit Disc and Bayonet.jpg
    Spandau 1901 Unit Disc and Bayonet.jpg
    248.3 KB · Views: 129
That is a really nice rifle, and right as far as the serialing goes. Spandau obviously supplied the Garde units early off as I have quite a few documented to similar units.

That bayonet is fairly close to the stock I got off Bruce some years back- it too probably came off a Spandau rifle.

Thanks again for the data and interesting thread!
 

Attachments

  • MVC-527F.JPG
    MVC-527F.JPG
    77.7 KB · Views: 78
I got this in a trade; the previous owner needed a reenacting Gew but he had this so I traded him the barrel mismatched 1914 Danzig for this.

It is unit marked, and has the features of an early rifle. Interestingly, it has been updated for the S round but lacks the receiver fireproof. It has updated rear sights on the old sight-base, and the early bayonet lug. Also of interest is the stock, which is numbered internally but not externally, kind of like a Gew 88.

I really wish I knew the history of this gun, as it is mostly matching and in nice shape, but ended up being sold cheap to a reenactor. Aside from the early features, the Unit mark is the coolest part; I need to look up the history of the 4th Grenadier Guards Reserve.

I dropped in a extra bolt I had that came with my Danzig 1916, it'll work until a fine something better. Here are the numbers;

SPANDAU 1901

Receiver SN 6136
Barrel SN 6136 BI 72
Front sight SN 36
Rear sight SN 40
Sight Slider SN 36
Ejector box SN 36
Trigger Sear SN 36
Front barrel band SN 36
Rear barrel band SN 36
Trigger guard SN 6136
Trigger guard screws SN 36, 36
Floor Plate SN 36
Follower SN 36
Stock SN 6136 Disc 4 GG.R.3.136.
Handguard SN 6136
Buttplate SN 6136
Bayonet lug SN 36
Cleaning rod SN 96
Bolt body SN 1851 2568 2655
Extractor SN
Safety SN 07
Cocking piece SN 07
Bolt sleeve SN 07
Extractor SN 07
Firing pin SN 07

Full pictures found here: https://picasaweb.google.com/cm13637aef/Spandau1901?authkey=Gv1sRgCIn4-vP7ueyyUw#
Got an Lv rear leaf # 36 too.
 
Thanks! this is definitely one of my favourite Gewehrs. I tried to do research on Garde-Reserve-Grenadier-Regiment Nr.4, but quickly found out I was out of my league. Reserve regiments are hard enough, but I can not find any mention of the 4th G.G. Reserve either in the Histories of the 251 Divisions of the German Army or on the internet. I did find out about Königin Augusta Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr.4, part of the 2nd Garde Division; too bad there is likely no correlation.

What a great find! Did you manage to research the regimental markings and find out any history?
 

Attachments

  • 2nd Guard Division.jpg
    2nd Guard Division.jpg
    302.2 KB · Views: 29
Reserve regiments are hard enough, but I can not find any mention of the 4th G.G. Reserve either in the Histories of the 251 Divisions of the German Army or on the internet.

That is most easy to explain and difficult at the same time.
The 3rd and the 4th G.G. Reserve Regiment are "phantom units". They never ever existed.

According to German regulations all weapons and equipment for Reserve units had to be unit marked and then stored away.
Until 1904 it was planned to establish the 3rd and 4th G.G. Reserve Regimenter in case of war/mobilization. When this mobilization plan was changed in 1904 your rifle already was produced, stamped and stored away.

Where your rifle finally ended up, ...... sorry, no idea. Probably with the regular 4th G.G. Regiment.
 
Thanks! That is very helpful, I was still wondering about it.

That is most easy to explain and difficult at the same time.
The 3rd and the 4th G.G. Reserve Regiment are "phantom units". They never ever existed.

According to German regulations all weapons and equipment for Reserve units had to be unit marked and then stored away.
Until 1904 it was planned to establish the 3rd and 4th G.G. Reserve Regimenter in case of war/mobilization. When this mobilization plan was changed in 1904 your rifle already was produced, stamped and stored away.

Where your rifle finally ended up, ...... sorry, no idea. Probably with the regular 4th G.G. Regiment.
 

Military Rifle Journal
Back
Top